Vehicle body



'May 2Q, T9" n A. L. EATON ET AL .VEHICLE BODY asheets-sheet 5 Filedv May 25, 1921 Patented May 29, 1923.

rr; .erario bedded@ FiF-EQ.

- '.All'l'I-IUR L'. EATON`AND' HARRY FVICKERS, OF LOS '.ANGELEs, CALIFORNIA; SAID f 'VICKERS'ASSGNOR TO'SAID EATON.

VEHICLE BODY.

Y.Application led May 23,

"` To all wlw/m. tmay/ concern:

" lsuch' as-may be usedzon a motortruck or Lthe 'like,=iand 'it is an object of the invention-to i provide a'simple, ettective, improved` device of' this character. n

A primaryv object o'l-the invention is to provide asimple, effective, easily. operated -body which can bey arranged' either in the' form ofa plane Hat platform on in the 'form Otan opentopped box. ,l *I

' A- note-worthy feature ot the invention is' the manner in which theparts ot the *body l" fitftogether andare held'together to form a tight continuous i structure whether arranged as aboX like structure orasafpla-tiiorm.

` Another importanteature oi' the inven- `tion is the Vmanner iii-which the tail gate is eonnec'tedto, or with, the other" parts ofthe body.' The ltail gate is vreleasably hinged at its lower edge to -the bottom of the body and is'adapted to be-releasably 'hinged at its upper* .edge to the sides of the body when theyV are upf'Thebody, therefore,y `canbe usedas a dump body by hinging the-tail gate at its upper edge, as a-body for 'general use by h ngingthe tai] 'gate at its lower edge, or 1t may beused without. the tailgate, for instance the tail gatel maybe allowed to hand ldownwardly from the 'bottom or may be completely detached ror removed fronrthe rest ofA the body.' Another distinctive fleatnre ot the invention is the'mechanism providedy -t'or `operating themeans by'wliich thev tailgate is -connected to-thebottom of the body. The invention provides an arrangement and mechanism bywhich the tail gate will" automatically be releasedwhen the body is being -used as a dump body'- and is moved to aiposi* tion to'discharge. and which will antou'iatically lock` when the kbody is againmoved to normal orcarrying position. y

'The various objectsv andfeatures of the ini' vention, including'those` just :pointedvout, will be best andmore :fully understood from' '1921. Serial N0. 471,580.

.the following detailed description of a typical embodiment of the invention throughout which reference is had to the accom-l 'lpanying drawings in which- Fig. 1 is a side elevation of a typical mo- -tor truck equipped with a body embodying the present invention; Fig. 2 is an enlarged side elevation of the body provided` by the present invention; Fig. 8 is a bottom plan view ot' the body, being a'view taken as indicated by line 3-3 ofgFig.y Q'gFigt is a View of the front endof the body withV certain .parts broken away, being a view taken as `indicated by line ela-1 on Fig. 2; F ig. 5 is a "View takenfroln the rear of the body showing it arranged to form afiat yplatform and with: the tail gate'removed; Fig. 6 is view taken-trom .the rear'of thefbody showing it arranged to form. an open `topped boxvflike structure and showin-gv the tail' gate inplaee and closed; F ig'. Z is an enlargeddetailed sectior'iall viewl taken as indicated by line '7-7 on Fig. 6; Fig. 8 is a view of the parts shown inFig. 7 being a view taken as indicated by line 8 8' on Fig. 7; Fig. 9 is aside elevation ofthe -bodyr arranged as av ydump body showing it in position todischarge and showing the tail. gate open", Fig. 10 isk an enlarged detail sectional yiew taken as indicated by line 10-1-10 on Fig. 5 and Fig. 11 is a perspective viewot1 one of the lbrackets by which the sides of the kbody are connected to the bottomthereot'.

In the drawingsnumeral l() designates a typical motor truck which'comprises, gener ally, a. frame 11 supported by wheels 12, a drivers or operators seat '13, and a steering wheel 14e arranged in i'ront'of the seat: 13, The body 15, provided by the present invention, is arranged or mounted on the rear portion oi' the truck frame 11 lbeing pivotally connected at' its rear endfto the rear end of the truck frame by a pivot rod 1G carried in brackets 17 which are mounted on the rear end of the truck frame. Theorward end of the body 15 is connected by cables 1S to a suitable hoist or jackmechanism 19 which is mounted on lthe-truck 'frame llv-between-the forward end of the -body 15 and -the seat 13, The cables 18 ofthe hoist mechanismv 19 connect to suitable arms 20 which extend downwardly from the forward end of the -bod'y 15 inthe manner clearly illustratedl in Figs. 1 and 2.' In `'practice it ifs desirable to provide which is a flat continuous structure or member, is solidly and preferably permanently mounted on the longitudinal sills 2lby means of transverse frame members 26, It will be obvious, of course, that the bottom 23 may be of any size or `proportions and that it may be made of any suitable material.

The frontend 24 of the body is preferably, although not necessarily, solidly and permanently secured in a perpendicular position at the extremo `forward end of the bote tom v23. The front end 24, like the bottom 23, may be of any desired design or proportions and may be of any suitable material.

The sides 25 of the body .15 are arranged at the two longitudinal edges of the bottom 23 and are connected to the bottom 23 by pivot pins 27 in a manner to permit of them being disposed either perpendicularly of the bottom 23 or parallel with the bottom 23 and at the. same plane as the bottom Although each of the sides 25 is preferably secured to the body 23 by a plurality of pins 27, as we have shown in the drawings, ywe will proceed to describe only one of the pins and the manner in which it connects a side 25 with the bottom 23 it being understood, of course, that the description is applicable to` all 0f the pins. l

In accordance wi h the present invention the pivot pin 27 in connecting the two parts, namely, the side 25 and the bottom 23, is carried in a fixed position relative,y to one of the parts and is movable relative to the other. In the particulararrangement shown in the drawings, the pin 27y is carried in a fixed position ina bracket 28 secured to the side 25 to form a projection or extension thereof, and is slidably carried in guide- Ways 30 formed in suitably arraijiged trans verse frame members 26a, which, being sen cured to the bottom 23, form. or act as projections orextensions thereof. rlhe pin 27 is carried'in a bore 31 provided in a portion of the bracket 27 which extends beyond or outwardly of the inner edge 32 of the side 25. The transverse frame members 26a, in which the guide ways 30 are provided, are ,spaced apart Lsufciently to rece-ive the bracket 28 between them as cle-arly illusf trated in Fig. l0 of thedrawings. It is preferred, although not necessary, to provide upper side 35 of the bottom 23, or how it may be arranged with its inner edge 32 close against the'edge of the bottom 23 sothat` it forms practically a continuation of the bottom 23 having its inner surface 36parallel to andin the same pla'n'e' as th'efsurface 35 of bottom 23. When the side 25 is in the first mentioned position the blocks 34` carrying the pin 27 are at the outer end portions of vthe guide ways 30 and when -it is the last mentioned position the blocks 34 are at the inner endv portions of the guide ways 30. In accordance with the invention the `frame members 26a, having in them the guide-ways 30 for the blocks 34, extend considerable distance beyond the edge of the bottom 23 so that they form a support for the side 25 when it is in the o-ut position as clearly illustrated in Fig. 5. 1

In orderthat ythe side 25 may be releasably securedv in the out position as shown in Fig. 5 we provide openings 40finfthe framemember 26a at points removed from, and preferably outward of, the. guideways 30 therein. An opening or bore 4lV is provided in ythe bracket 28 to register with the openings 40k when the side 25 is properly positioned relative to thel bottom 23. A pin 42, or a like member, may be arranged through openings 40 and 4l to positively and solidly secure or hold the sides 25 in the out positio-n as shown in Fig. 5. The pin 42 connecting the frame member 26 with the bracket 28 at a point` spaced or removed from the pivot pnpositively prevents any rotary or swinging motion of the guide 25, as about the pivot pin 27, and in extending'with ordinary accuracy or tightness through the openings 40 and 4l positively prevents any sliding or longitudinal movement of the side 25 relative to the bottom 23, such as movement o-fftheblocks 34 in the guide ways v30. Itis 'preferred that theopenings. y40 be provided 'in the frame member 26EL outwardlyl of theikguide ways 30 as clearly shownin the drawings.

To lock the side 25 up, as it isshown inY Figs. l, 2, 4, 6 and 9 we provide the brackets 28 with an extension Vor arm 45v in which there is an opening 46 which registerswith the openings 40 in the frame members 26 when the side 25 is in the desired up or perf pendicular position. A suitable pin, or the like, arranged through the openings 40 and 46 will obviously lio-ldthe side 25 firmly and solidly in the desired ,position andagainst any movement relative tothe bottom 23.

It will be particularly noted that when the side 25 is in the out position, as shown in Fig. 5, its inner. edgek 32 seats or engagestightly against the edge of ,the bottom` 23` and when the side 25 is inthe up position, as shown in Fig. y4, `its inner edge 32 sea-ts or bears ytightly against the edge portion of the upper surface 35 of the bottom 23. In other words, the invention .provides a'construction-Tand. 'arrangement i'whe'reby agtightf joint is made between the side-225fvandlbot-f `-tom23 whenlcthezbodry isin :the-:up positionl .and .when iit is'finlhthe'. outposition. i In practice thearm of ithel bracket" 281' may. be braced by 'a-'diagonal brace member 48 so that'the bracket isv of strong and rigid construction and s that the side 25 is braced` when it is in the up position,- asshown in'.-lr= Fig. l. It will obvious-howl-the bracket` 28 may be very easily cast or Votherwise suitably formed and how the sides 25 may be changed between the two positions just described very easily and quickly.

The tail gate 26 is designed and proportioned to extend upwardly from the rear end of the bottom 23 and between the sides 25 which are in the up position as shown in Figs. fl and 6. In accordance with the invention rearwardly facing-U-shaped brackets 50 are arranged at the upper rear corners of the sides 25 to receive pivot pins 51 which extend from the upper corners of the tail gate in the manner clearly illustrated in Figs. 6 and 9. The pivot pins 51 are adapted to be secured in the brackets 50 by removable pins 52 which are adapted to extend across the outer parts of the brackets 50 in the manner clearly illustrated in Figs. 6 and 9. lith this construction the tail gate 26 is detachably pivotally connected to the upper rear corners of the sides 25 so that it can swing outwardly at the bottom as shown in Fig. 9.

At the under side and rear end of the bottom 23 there is a pair of U-shaped brackets 55 adapted to receive a bar 56 which is mounted on the tail gate 26 to extend parallel with its lower edge as shown in the drawings. The rod 56 is adapted to extend into the U-shaped bracket 55 when the tail gate is closed as shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 6. A shaft 57 extends between the brackets 55 and a hook 58 is secured on the shaft 57 at each of the brackets. The hooks are adapted to operate through openings 59 in the lower sides of the brackets 55 to extend across the outer portions of the brackets and thereby secure or retain the rod 56 in place, in the manner clearly illustrated in Figs. 7 and 8. It will be obvious how suitable rotation of the shaft 57 will cause the hooks 58 to extend across the outer parts of the bracket to retain the rod 58 in the manner shown in Figs. 7 and 8, and how it may be operated to cause the hooks t0 withdraw from the brackets and release the rod 56. In accordance with the present invention the shaft 57 is adapted to be operated automatically when the body 15 is tilted or lifted by the hoist mechanism 19, t0 release the rod 56 and thereby allow the tail gate to swing open, and is adapted to operate automatically to move the hooks into the brackets and thereby retain the rod 56 when the body is moved to its-normal positionl as'shown in F igs'. 1

@and 2. I rblever 60 ismountedoireach: end of the shaft 57 and is connected'with bell cranks` 61,'p'ivotally mounted onthesills 21 at points somewhat; inwardly' of the endl of thebody, byconnecting rods' 62. The bell cranksl 6l iwithdrawnfrom the bracket, by asuitable spring 64. The bell cranks 6l are located to engage stops 66 mounted on the truck frame when the body is lowered and is in its normal position.- As the body is lowered the bell cranks 6l engage the stops 66 which cause them to move around from the position shown in Fig. 9, to cause the levers 60 to be swung outwardly so that the shaft 57 is rotated and the hooks 58 are moved across the outer parts 0f the brackets 55 to retain the rod 56 securely in place, as illustrated in Figs. 7 and 8. It will be obvious how this mechanism operates to automatically release the tail gate when the body is raised to dumping position and how it automatically secures the tail gate in closed position when the body is moved to, or is in normal position.

In the preferred form of the invention a plurality of stake pockets 95 are suitably arranged in the sides 25 to receive stakes when this body is in the flat or extended position. The pockets 95 are preferably within the edges of the sides as shown in the drawings. When the body is being used as a dump body or the like the suitable plugs may be arranged in the pockets to close them.

Having described only a preferred embodiment of our invention we do not wish to limit ourselves to the particular details hereinabove set forth but wish to reserve to ourselves any changes or variations that may appear to those skilled in the art or that may fall within the scope ofthe following claims:

Having described a preferred form of our invention, we `claim:

1. In a vehicle body, a bottom, a side, a member arranged in connection with the bottom to project from its edge, the member having a guide slot in it, a block slidably carried by the slot, and a bracket attached to the side and having pivotal connection with the block so that the Side can be positioned to project from the edge 0f the bottom'in the plane of the bottom or to project upwardly from the bottom, the bracket having parts adapted to be connected with said member to hold the side in either of said positions.

2. In a vehicle body, a bottom, a side, two spaced members attached to the bottom to project from its edge, the members having guide slots in them at the edge portion of the bottom and having openings at their outer ends. blocks slidably carried in the slots, a rigid bracket rigidly attached to the side,

means pivotally connecting the bracket with the blocks so that the side can'be positioned o ,to extend fromtheedge of the bottom in theplane of the bottom 4and to vextend from the edge of the bottom upwardly at substantially right angles to thev bottom, the bracket havingk openings adapted to registerv with the opeiimgsin said members When the side is in i 1l Witness: y

either of said positions, and, a pin adapted 10 be arraiigedthiough the registering open- J We hav'eheieunto subscribed our namesthis 'iStliday .ofvMay 1921. .I

i' v"ARTHUR'LEMoNp Y vHARRY F. VICKEBS.

. VIRGINIA BE'RI'NGER. i 

